Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-10

Their Severe Decentralization OF the Dis
trict COmmissiOmers.

THE COMMISSIONERS REPORT ON THE WATER Ac-
COUNTS CHARACTERIZED As A TISSUE OF FALSE
HOOD AND PREvARIcATIoN-AN AUDITING OF THE
ACCOUNTS BY Q. s. TREASURY ACCOUNTANT URGED
-REoUEsTING THE SECRETARY OF WAR TO COURT
MARTIAL col LUDLOW.
An adjourned meeting OF the protesting water
takers OF the city was held at the Grand Army
Hall last night There were about fifty persons
present. When Mr.. John A. Hayward, the presf-
oent, called the meeting to order he said that the
treasurer was In attendance for the purpose of
receiving the names and fees OF those who wish to
unite In legal action against the collection of
water rents and the Waterman assessments.
me secretary, Van Buren, Hfllyard, stated that In
reply to note from Col. Lamont the private Sec
Rotary OF the President, suggesting a written COM
munlcatlon TO the latter instead Of personal In.
terview the committee appointed for that purpose
nad sent 10 the President copy OF the resolutions
u, az IT. .ns ast meeting calling for the re-
they mad as yet received no response
, Inc president OF the meeting said that he had
aoded Judge Willard TO the law committee and
tnat committee was now ready to receive com.
plants OF water takers and 10 advise whether
there could be a test case made in the courts He
said that in the opinion of the conmittee there
were two classes OF cases wherein the Commits
SiOnerS have
UsURPED THEIR AUTHORITY AND D1soBEyyn THE
LAW.
In the first class they have changed the corpora-
ton laws Of the city OF Washington. enacted
under the authority OF the act OF Congress of
March $, 1893 Inc commissioners, succeeding TO
Tue powers OF the Old assembly, had the author
1ty. and have now the authority TO increase or
decrease the water rates. But the present Com
mlsoioners have gone further, and have altered
authority to amend law, nor have they author
ty 10 alter law. The law says 'For each
additional front foot" so much. The Commits
slonerS alter or amend the law by saying, "FOr
each additional front foot, or fractional part
thereof" SO much. Here is u complete usurpation
OF authority. The Commissioners have made
another amendment to the law The law reads
For each additional story" so much. The Com
mlas1oners say, For each additional story, or part
tnereOi, so much. The Commissioners have also
FAILED TO apportion the rates according to the
character, size and value OF the property. The
law gives them ten modes by which they can
appOrtion the rates, but they have made them
uniform, SO that the frame house. the brick house,
the cheap house. and the expensive house are ali
that he noticed in the hall Mr. w. C. Dodge who
had taken a great deal OF interest in the water
for some remarks
Mr. Dodge said that he had prepared some time
ago statement showing the
INCONSISTENCIES OF THE ENGINEER OFFICERS.
He had asserted in the spring that there was to be
an increase In the water rates from II to 10 per
cent Capt Symons had, in a published inter-
view, stated that the reason for this Increase in
the rates was that there was a deficiency Of
s6s,OOO This Capt. SymOns claimed, had been
o.OuSnt ABOUT Oy the appropriation OF Congress,
and as the money obtained from the water rates
dld not reach the necessary figure there was left
deficiency which had to be made up by an increase
In the rates. Then Col Ludlow, in published in
terview denied that there was any increase In the
water rates and In the Waterman tax. No one
had Claimed the latter He said that there had
only been REIMBURSEMENT OF the rates. which
would yield eight or ten thousand dollars more
each year. MI. Dodge characterized this as
wnFuL AND DELIBERATE DECEPTION.
He then read statement from member Of the
,t,,ytf
he had no idea that there was any increase in the
water rates contemplated. After the Commissioners
mad procured this additional appropriation from
Congress, Mr.. Dodge said, then they claim that
The change in the plans for the Increased water
supply 10 tunnel aqueduct was done entirely by
the engineers without the consent of Congress,
and this had largely increased the expense as well
as the burden upon the city.
FROM $3.50 TO $780,
MIR. Geo. Wagner said that his water rent had
been increased from $3.50 to $19. so and when he
protested against IL Commissioner Webb informed
him that they had the authority to make changes
In the rates
Nj. j. ii. Smith said that there was no city in
tne country ruled with such tyrannical power as
IN TINS city: The commissioners, in their increase
latlons, had expressed power as despot1c as that
OF the car OF Russia. They had infringed upon
people met together TO protest against 1t.
When In many cities there was a growing agita-
ton for free water for the people. here was wit
messed the astounding spectacle OF an increase in
the rates OF 100 per cent and more. Instead OF OPP
pressing the people, the Commissioners should
protect them In their rights and instead OF making
ne" regulations, they should enforce the laws al
ready made. For instance the law In regard to
the sale OF liquor to minors, which was so fire.
quently violated. Either the Commissioners
should show more regard for the people, or else
they should be made 10 step down and oat.
Mr. CRANE DENOUNCEs CAPT. sYMONs' STATEMENT AS
"A FRAUDULENT AND LYING DOCUMENT"
Il said fharb no
pected that some reference should be made to the
statement just issued by the District Commission
ers He thought that there were two objects I'm
bringing 1t out at this time One was to democrat
the figures telegraphed all over the country to
show that this meeting did not know what it was
about, and that the Charges made against the
administration OF the water department were
groundle5S- He had not had the opportunity to
examine the statement carefully, but he had seen
enough OF It TO convince himself that it was the
most fraudulent and lying document ever put be-
fore community. II Is astonishing that the
Commissioners would be willing to place
ing one refuge OF falsehOod they put them
selves In worse condition than before
Now, look at the figures given in the tables, he
that there was s, GA. 80 expended In laying water
mains Now, in my figures, which were obtained
from the report OF the Commissioners to Congress
In reply TO the resolution OF inquiry the amount
expended is stated TO be s52,773.34. Now. the
question is what was done with this balance III 10
further shown by the figures already published.
Mr.. Crane said that there was a deficiency O}
$212, 61541 between the amount collected and the
amount expended by the water department for
the six years from 1880 TO 1886. This was not ac
counted for in the statement prepared by the Com
missionerS, and he, for one, would like to Know
what had been done with the money. There were
other points, Mr.. Crane said he could bring ont n
he had time TO go over the statement.
MR. CRANE SAYS HE WAS NOT DISMISSED FROM THE
DISTRICT SERVICE.
Mr. Crane then said m regard IN n s+o&o-.o..
published as coming from Col. Ludlow. that he
(Mr. Crane1 had been dismissed from the wafer
office for the good OF the service that he was NOT
dismissed, but, together with the water board and
the mayor OF the city, he was legtsIated ouI OF
Office, and before he left his accounts We're audited
and found correct. He referred to what he termed
a DIT OF unwr1tten history, and said that DURING
tne tweed rule In New York city an effort was
made 10 have introduced into this CITY a watar
meter with the view OF aiding the subsequent Ia
He had opposed IL from the first and the MAYOR
nnally vetoed the bill which was passed nv the
councils He believed that he had been fnstrn
mental In saving this city from this raid from Arc
treasury and also New York CITY, He then referred
10 The extravaganza of the District Commissioners
In keeping horses, and said that there were ar
least twelve horses now owned by the District for
the use OF the District officials. "
THE wATER-TAKERs PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION M
CANNED.
On motion OF Mr.. Geo. Wagner the meettnr no
solved itself into an association to be knO. I'm 90
the Water-Takers' Protective Association 3 nd ,hot
the present hall be hired for three mont no 800.
lngS 10 De held on the FIRST and third &c ~